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Reluctant witness could face contempt of court charge

Accused remanded on separate breach of community service
THE missing witness in a Thurso vandalism trial could face a charge of contempt.
The possibility was flagged up by Sheriff Andrew Berry. today, when Dominic Long appeared from custody.
Long had been due to give evidence on Thursday in the trial of Noel Sutherland, 25, accused of throwing a stone through the window of Long's home in Ormlie Crescent Thurso.
However, he failed to appear on Thursday and the part-heard trial was adjourned until January 7. The court at Wick was told that the fiscal's staff had eventually managed to make contact with Long who was said he was working in a remote area but didn't know where that was.
An arrest warrant was issued for Long but he walked into the court building on Friday and was promptly taken into custody.
Sheriff Berry told Long, today, that the vandalism trial had to be adjourned because of the accused's absence and said it was possible he would be held in contempt of court.
Long was bailed to appear on a future appearance on the issue but remanded on the separate matter of breaching a community service order and will reappear on December 8.
Sheriff Berry noted from a report that the accused had only attended one of six appointments to carry out his unpaid work and that he was regarded as being of "a high risk" of offending.
Earlier in the week, the court heard from Long's brother, Liam Long, 18, about the alleged stone throwing incident, on October 27.
He had been sitting at a table next to the window at Dominic's home in Ormlie Crescent, Thurso, at the time. He had seen Sutherland, of Haakon Road, Thurso, in the garden and witnessed him throw a sizable beach-type stone through the window which flew past him before landing near the fireplace.
His brother Dominic was in his bedroom directly above the sitting room. Liam Long claimed that Sutherland had been "harrassing" his brother for "days". The adjourned trial is scheduled to resume onf January 7.
Mr Sutherland has pleaded not guilty.